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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-03922

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 vaccination centres have been operating in each NHS board area on a (a) full-time and (b) part-time basis, broken down by month since January 2021.

NHS health boards lead on the local delivery of the vaccination programme. Vaccination centres have frequently changed throughout the programme, with some facilities being repurposed, and drop-in clinics being made available as we have had to exercise flexibility.

As such, the Scottish Government do not hold the requested level of information.

Information regarding the number of vaccination centres operating in each health board area, and their opening hours can be found on NHS inform.

Question reference: S6W-04279

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to (a) prevent and (b) mitigate the disruption caused by changes to public transport due to COP26.

Transport Scotland undertook a public messaging programme to inform and forewarn the public of the need to plan their journey during COP26, directing people to the Get Ready Glasgow website, which held detailed heat maps of affected areas and suggested alternative routes. This campaign proved to be successful in reducing the background demand, which allowed space for the events to take place while leaving capacity on transport networks for key workers and unplanned disruption.

A zero emission Shuttle Bus service was put in place to support the extra demand on public transport between Glasgow City Centre and the venue. This was positively received by delegates, and proved to be popular, transporting almost 5000 people on its busiest day. Rail and subway services were strengthened to support the demand. Free cycle hire was also available in Glasgow, provided by Nextbike.

Furthermore, the Transport Co-ordination Centre and Transport Scotland Resilience Room were stood up throughout the conference to monitor and help mitigate any transport related issues.

Question reference: S6W-04267

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on supporting aquaponics in each year since 2018.

Question reference: S6W-04152

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.

Year	Number of Appeals	Upheld (in favour of the applicant)	Awaiting Decision
2015	<3	<3	0
2016	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0
2018	<3	0	0
2019	0	0	0
2020	0	0	0

The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.

Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet.

Year	AECS Applications Reviewed	Review Upheld (in favour of the applicant)	Awaiting Decision
2015	66	13	0
2016	93	18	0
2017	54	14	0
2018	76	27	0
2019	63	17	0

Question reference: S6W-04151

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.

Year	Total LFASS Claim Population Received	Eligible Population (Approved)	Awaiting Decision
2015	12,198	11,406	0
2016	12,092	11,334	0
2017	11,916	11,186	0
2018	11,790	11,058	<3
2019	11,644	10,920	5
2020	11,602	10,877	23

The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision. The figures below exclude those applications that were submitted then subsequently withdrawn by the businesses concerned.

Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.

Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet. However 72 applications have, so far, been deemed ineligible for approval.

Year	Received AECS Applications	Approved AECS Applications	Awaiting Decision
2015	927	594	0
2016	1,251	979	0
2017	989	807	0
2018	900	604	0
2019	709	506	0
2021	753	0	681

Question reference: S6W-04268

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken to further its understanding of the (a) environmental benefits and (b) costs of aquaponics.

Question reference: S6W-04133

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to respond to the reported recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that building evacuation alert systems should be fitted in new and existing high-rise buildings over 11 metres in height.

On 1 October 2019, the Scottish Government introduced evacuation alert systems in new high rise domestic buildings with a floor over 18m. The government also published Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing High Rise Domestic Buildings. The guidance promotes using a risk based approach to determine the fire safety measures required. Therefore, upgrading existing high rise domestic buildings with evacuation alert systems may be implemented where the level of fire risk is justified, taking into account the time, cost and disruption to building occupants involved.

We are not aware of any recommendation from the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 report relating to evacuation alert systems to be installed in new and existing high rise buildings over 11 metres in height.

Question reference: S6W-04176

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that green incentives and loans for renewable energy efficiency measures for domestic properties are easy to understand and apply for, and that members of the public have access to the help and support they need to ensure that the application process itself is not a barrier to the assistance available.

The Scottish Government provides loans with cashback grants to enable households in all parts of Scotland to install renewables and energy efficiency measures. Funding is delivered through Home Energy Scotland and managed, on behalf of Scottish Government, by the Energy Saving Trust,

To further support households in understanding the application process, Home Energy Scotland provides:

free, impartial, bespoke advice through Home Energy Scotland, including specialist home renewables advice;
the Green Homes Network which allows households to find out about the experience of others who have already installed renewables measures; and
the Renewable Installer Finder Tool which helps households find installers and suppliers in their area.

Going forward, and following the recent publication of the Heat in Buildings Strategy, we are developing a bespoke public engagement strategy for heat in buildings. This builds on the objectives and guiding principles of our Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change, as well as our existing support and advice programmes.

We are investing in growing our advice services so that they continue to meet people's needs and this includes improving our digital presence and continuing to provide in-depth support for installing zero emissions heating systems.

Question reference: S6W-03931

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to join the National Pancreatic Cancer Audit.

Question reference: S6W-03932

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported survivability bias in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey to ensure that experiences of patients with a less survivable cancer are captured, and whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care plans to make a statement on the issue.